Iran plays pivotal role in Syrian economic, military and political files in coordination with the Syrian government and within the framework of Syrian sovereignty, Housen Ragheb, the Syrian Member of Parliament, told the Syriatimes e-newspaper on Saturday.

The MP, who occupies the position of Deputy Chairman of Reconciliation Committee at the People’s Assembly [Parliament], made it clear that Iran had been engaged in several reconciliation deals, such as al-Foua and Madaya deals.

“It is known that Iran is also a main party in Astana talks on Syria and we hope that these talks will help end war and push political process forwards,” he said, indicating that the recent meeting between the Iranian parliamentary delegation and the members of the Syrian-Iranian Parliamentary Friendship Association in Syria dealt with enhancing cooperation between the two countries in Parliamentary, economic and cultural fields.

Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church has underscored that providing relief aid, achieving development and explaining the reality of events to the West have been the main activities of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate during the crisis in Syria, started in 2011.   

His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II told the Syriatimes e-newspaper that the relief works have mainly been done by St. Ephrem Patriarchal Development Committee (EPDC), which has offered immediate help and assistance to all those in need, while development has been achieved through creating job opportunities and funding small projects that help families, to earn their own living and to have some small income, especially the youths.